Filling device



June 29, 1965 L. R. HoLLlFlELD 3,191,644

FILLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 3l, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ans/Mfr INV ENT ORmwefzfQHaz/eld Z 3Q/m M, Mb

A ORNEY' June 29, 1965 R, HoLLlFlELD 3,191,644

FILLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 3l, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gg. A 3 3g /g 37 l`,Z/ .if 34 9 30 f --22 /3 40 l I El L/QU/P l" 'i f I :E l E 1).- I l i;:j -@4' E la l INVENTOR l Pff TTORNEYS June 29, 1955 L. R. HoLLlFlELD3,191,644

FILLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 31, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIIIIII 5 uw'INVENTOR ym, am@ @x4/M United States Patent O pue 3,191,644 FILLINGDEVICE Lawrence R. Holliiield, R0. Box 193, Grover, N.C. Filed Aug. 31,1962, Ser. No. 229,629 s (3i-arms. (er. 141-302) This invention relatesto lling apparatus, more particularly to apparatus for lling glass ormetal containers with a gas impregnated liquid under pressure such asthe familiar carbonated beverages and the like.

In the bottling art relating to lling receptacles with carbonatedbeverages, a major problem is the prevention of foaming during the llingcycle. In general this is accomplished by admission of the impregnatinggas, usually carbon dioxide, to the bottle or other container so as toequalize pressure in the container with that of the gas-impregnatedliquid, after which the latter lows substantially by gravity into thecontainer. This gravity ow coupled wih no substantial change in pressureminimizes agitation of the liquid thereby reducing foaming of theliquid.

This procedure requires an assembly which controls the flow of the gas,commonly referred to as counter pressure, and also controls the ow ofthe gas-impregnated liquid lat the desired rates together with amechanism for operating the same in the desired sequence. In order toavoid spattering when the container is separated from the ller valve andstem, it is customary to provide means for reducing the pressure in thefilled container at the closeof the filling operation and before thecontainer is removed from the lling machine for transfer to the cappingor sealing machine.

These steps of counter pressure, liquid admission, and pressure release,make up the lling cycle. The length of this cycle, of course, determinesthe speed of operation which, in turn, directly affect production costs.

It is an object of this invention to reduce the filling time for a givensize container. It is a further object of this invention to provide animproved filling valve which is simpler and less expensive tomanufacture and maintain. It is a further object of this invention toprovide a filler stem which is simpler and less expensive to constructand maintain. These and other objects of invention will be readilyapparent from the following description and accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the valve and associated liller tubeconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in vertical section of the filler assemblyconstructed according to the present invention, taken along the line 2-2of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is another vertical sectional view similar to that of FGURE 2but taken along the line 3 3, that is 90 away from that of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view of the valve assembly along theline 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is another cross-sectional View taken somewhat higher on thevalve at the line 5--5 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the filler stem alongthe line 6--6 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the several figures, more particularly FIGURE 1, theconstruction and operation of my improved ller valve will nowbe'described. The valve 1, formed `of a body 11 and head or cover 12, ismounted upon a lilling machine 10, exteriorly thereof, by bolts or otherfastening means 33. The construction and operation of filling machineare conventional and per se form no part of the present invention.Reference therefor will be made only to `such parts of the fillingmachine as coact with the improved valve. The valve ICC 1 is incommunication with machine 10 through inlets 13 and 14 for liquid andgas (counter-pressure) respectively. Liquid is supplied to inlet 13 andgas is supplied to inlet 14 through lines in the filling machineindicated generally at 13 and 14', respectively. These supply lines 13and 14', in turn are connected to corresponding reservoirs of uid, notshown, in the lling machine.

Within valve body 11, liquid inlet 13 communicates through chamber 15with channel 16, which extends downwardly through the lower extension 17of the valve body. Located within chamber 15 is a pear valve -18, ttingconical seat 19 in the upper part of channel 16. Valve 1S is providedwith a stern 20 extending vertically within chamber 15 into a socket 21within valve head 12. Pear valve 18 is normally held tightly in seat 19by compression spring 22 which is located about stem 2t) betweenextension or shoulder 23 on the stern and head 12. Torfacilitatelocating spring 22, a recess or groove 24 may be provided in head 12concentric with Socket 21.

Valve 18 is lifted by means of fork 25 pivotally mounted on pin 26. Inclosed position, fork 25 rests upon the cut-out portion or flat 27 ofrod 28 as shown in FIGURE 2. Rod 28 extends through an opening in thevalve body and is provided with an actuating lever or valve arm 29 atthe outer end thereof. In order that rod 28 may turn freely withoutleakage, the opening in the valve body is provided with a suitablepacking gland 30.

Gas inlet 14 communicates with chamber 35 through Achannel 34 in valvebody 11 and channel 34 in valve head 12. Channel 36 `in head 12 leadsfrom chamber and is normally closed by valve 37 under the loading ofspring 3S. Stem 39 extends downwardly from valve 37 through valve head12, with the lower end adjacent extension 31 on fork 25. Means such asadjusting screw 40 may be provided to increase or decrease the eifectivelength of stem 359 if desired. Channel 36 in valve head 12 communicatesin turn with channel 36 in valve body 11.

A third channel 41, in valve body 11, extends from channel 16 to chamber42 which in turn is in communication with the atmosphere through valve43. Valve 4 3 is normally closed under the action of spring 44, and

`is provided with an actuating stem which extends exteriorly of valvebody 11 through opening 46.

Another feature of this invention is the filler stem or tube 61 which isused in connection with valve l. As shown in the drawings, iiller stem61 comprises an elongated lower cylindrical section 62 adapted to beinserted in a bottle or other container to be lled, and a relativelyshort upper portion 63 of greater diameter which is adapted forconnection with the filler valve by means of the threaded union 50.

The enlarged upper section is provided with two channels 64 and 65 forgas and liquid respectively. These in turn are so spaced and sized as toalign with the appropriate gas and liquid channels 36 and 16 in thelower part 17 of the valve body. These channels 64 and 65 are extendedinto the elongated ller tube 62` as channels 64 and 65'. In thepreferred embodiment illustrated, channel 64' extends along the innerwall substantially t0 the bottom. At or near the lower end of channel64', there is an opening 66 in the wall of the ller tube Whereby gasunder pressure may ow out of said channel. A number of apertures 67 areprovided in the tube wall whereby liquid Within the larger central boremay W out through a plurality of relatively small streams with a minimumof agitation. The lower end of the stern is lsolid and tapered,substantially as shown.

Surrounding stem 62, and mounted on the under side of the enlarged upperportion 63 is a sealing means 70 of rubber or other relatively softresilient material which is inert to the beverage or other liquid andwhich may be readily cleaned and/ or sterilized.

The operation of this device in filling bottles with a carbonatedbeverage will now be explained. With the valve 1 mounted upon fillingmachine 16 as hereinbefore described, carbonated water or other aqueousbeverage is supplied to inlet 13, and a'suitable gas under pressure issupplied to inlet 14'. 'A bottle 9@ to be filled with the liquid isplaced under valve 1 with the filler tube centered within theneck of thebottle and the mouth of the bottle pressed against sealing means 7i) influid-tight engagement therewith. The size and shape of stem 62 providesthe desired centering effect for bottle 90 without the use of the bellor like centering means of' the conventional filling devices now in use,at no sacrifice of filling speed.

With'the bottle in position to receive the carbonated liquid, valve arm29 is turned approximately 35 counterclockwise by a first stationary camon the filling machine, indicated at 30. This position is indicated inbroken lines B, FIGURE l. Valve arm 29 being firmly fixed to rod 28,there is a'coresponding rotation of rod 2S. As rod 28 rotates, fork 25,which initially rests upon flat 27, is gradually lifted by'the arcuateportion of rod 28 opposite fiat 27. As fork 25 is thus raised the upperside thereof engages the under side of shoulder 23 of stem 2i), and thuslifts stem 20. With this lifting of stem 20, valve 18 moves upwardlyfrom its seat 19 and the carbonated liquid flows from channel 13 throughchamber 15 and channel 16 into the bore 65 of filler tube 61.

Since the carbonated liquid is under pressure, it is necessary that thepressure in bottle 9@ be substantially equaliZed therewith beforetheliquid flows through openings 67. This is accomplished in the presentinvention by extension 31 on fork 25 which engages stem 39 of gas valve37. The effective length of stem 39 is so fixed by adjusting means 40that gas valve 37 is opened slightly ahead of liquid valve 18. By thissequence of valve openings, gas passes through the several passages orchannels 64 and 64 and opening 66 into bottle 94B so that the pressuretherein is substantially equalized with the pressure on the carbonatedliquid before the saine enters the bottle through the several openings67 in the filler tube.` The liquid thus admitted to bottle iiows undersubstantially the static head of the liquid in the lling machine so thatfoaming due to agitation and substantial pressure release issubstantially eliminated.

By the time the bottle is thus filled, valve arm 29 is moved clockwise35 to closing position corresponding to position A, FIGURE l by a secondstationary cam on the filling machine. The relative position of this camis indicated in broken lines at Si).

In this operation, cam 68, on the inner side of linear 29 engages stem45 of the snift valve 43, lifting the valve against spring 44 so thatopening 46 is uncovered. Gas under pressure within bottle 90 is therebyvented to atmosphere through channels 16 and 41, chamber 42 and opening46. By thus reducing the pressure, agitation and foaming is largelyeliminated as the filled container is discharged from the filler fortransfer to the sealing or capping machine.

The improved filling valve and filling stem can be l used to fillcans'and other metal containers as well as bottles, jars and other glasscontainers. Either or both are useful'with plain or uncarbonatedliquids, such as water, Vas well as carbonated beverages such as beersand ales, along with the conventional soft drinks.

Upon reference to the figures it will be noted that the valve headportion 12 is connected to the valve body portion 11 by means of bolts,thus facilitating assembly and maintenance, including cleaning andsterilizing. The filler stern 61 is likewise separable for repairs Vandcleaning, being connected to valve body 11 by means of the union 50.Leakage at these several joints is prevented by means of gaskets in theconventional manner. Similarly, the valves 18, 3'7 and 43 may beprovided with resilient rings or discs to ensure a duid-tight seal inthe closed position. v

The tapered solid lower section 68 of stem 62 may be integral or it maybe a separate element united therewith by brazing, welding or the like.If desired, tip 68 may be removably held by friction or threads. Insteadof metal, tip 68 may be made of natural or synthetic rubber or of one ofthe synthetic plastics with the desired properties.

It is understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates onlyto preferred embodiments of the invention and that it is intended tocover all changes and modifications of the examples of the inventionherein chosen for the purposes of disclosure, which do not constitutedepartures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus `described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a device for filling a container with a gas-impregnated liquidcomprising a valve body having passages therethrough for a gas and saidgas-impregnated liquid, respectively, a hollow filling `stem on saidbody forming 'outlet extensions for said gas and gas-impregnated liquidpassages respectively, said filling stem being adapted for Vinsertioninto a container'to be filled, means to form a fluid-tight seal betweensaid filling stem and said container, and a valve in each of saidpassages to control flow of iiuid therethrough into said container, theimprovement which comprises a common means for actuating said valves,said means comprising a lever arm vmounted exteriorly of said body andoperatively connected with said valves, means within said body for adejusting the order of opening said valves, a third valve within said bodyfor controlling flow of fiuid through a third conduit, and means on saidlever arm to open said third valve after said first and second valvesare closed and to close said third valve before -said first and secondvalves are opened.

2. Apparatus for filling receptacles with gas-.impregnated liquids whichcomprises a valve body having a gas inlet and a liquid inlet and a gasoutlet and a liquid outlet, a gas channel in said body between said gasinlet and gas outlet, a first valve controlling flow in said gaschannel, a liquid channel .in said valve body, between said liquid inletand liquid outlet, a second Valve controlling fiow in said liquidchannel, each of said valves being'held normally closed by a biasingforce, means within said body for concurrently actuating said rst andsecond valves, means within said body for varying the opening of said'first valve in relation tothe lopening of said second valve, a thirdfiuid channel inzsaid valve body, said third channel extending from saidliquid channel between said second valve and said liquid outlet to theexterior of said valve` body, a third valve in said third channelcontrolling fiow of fluid therethrough, a stern for actuating vsaidvalve extending through the valve body and terminatingexteriorlythereof, a lever arm mounted exteriorly of said valve bodyoperatively connected with the means for actuating said first and secondvalves, said lever arm'including a cam portion, said cam portion beinginv operative engagementwith the stem of said third valve to open thesaine when said lever is in its closed position with respect to saidfirst and second valves.

3. Apparatus for filling receptacles with gasimpreg nated liquids whichcomprises a valve body, a first fluid channel in saidv body, a firstvalve controlling flow of fluid in said first channel, a second fiuidchannel in said Valve body, a second valve controlling iiow of fiuid insaid second channel, each of said valves being' held normally closed bya biasing means, means within said body for concurrently actuating saidfirst and second valves, adjusting means to vary the timing oftheopening of said 5 lirst valve in relation to the opening of said secondvalve, a tube depending from said body, said tube having a relativelylarge central bore, and a second channel of relatively small diameterextending longitudinally therein, a single aperture in the wall of saidtube in open communication with isaid second channel, a plurality ofapertures in the wall of said tube in open communication with saidcentral bore whereby uids within said channel and said bore may bedischarged therefrom, means for attaching said tube to said valve bodywith the rst and second channels of said body connected in fluid flowrelation with :said bore and said second channel, respectively, of saidtube, a third uid channel in said valve body, said third channelextendingfrom said first channel between said first valve and theconnection with said central bore to the exterior of said valve body, athird valve in said third channel controlling flow of fluidtherethrough, a stem for actuating said valve extending through thevalve body and terminating exteriorly thereof, a lever arm mountedexteriorly of said valve body operatively connected with the means foractuating said first and second valves, said lever arm including a camportion, said cam portion being in operative engagement with the stem ofsaid third valve to open the same when said lever is in its closedposition with respect to said first and second valves.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,063,326 12/36Meyer 141-302 XR 2,178,559 1l/39 Cohen et al 137-628 XR FOREIGN PATENTS777,930 7/57 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A DEVICE FOR FILLING A CONTAINER WITH A GAS-IMPREGNATED LIQUIDCOMPRISING A VALVE BODY HAVING PASSAGES THERETHROUGH FOR A GAS AND SAIDGAS-IMPREGNATED LIQUID, RESPECTIVELY, A HOLLOW FILLING STEM ON SAID BODYFORMING OUTLET EXTENSIONS FOR SAID GAS AND GAS-IMPREGNATED LIQUIDPASSAGES RESPECTIVELY, SAID FILLING STEM BEING ADAPTED FOR INSERTIONINTO A CONTAINER TO BE FILLED, MEANS TO FORM A FLUID-TIGHT SEAL BETWEENSAID FILLING STEM AND SAID CONTAINER, AND A VALVE IN EACH OF SAIDPASSAGES TO CONTROL FLOW OF FLUID THERETHROUGH INTO SAID CONTAINER, THEIMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A COMMON MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID VALVES,SAID MEANS COMPRISING A LEVER ARM MOUNTED EXTERIORLY OF SAID BODY ANDOPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID VALVES, MEANS WITHIN SAID BODY FORADJUSTING THE ORDER OF OPENING SAID VALVES, A THIRD VALVE WITHIN SAIDBODY FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH A THIRD CONDUIT, AND MEANS ONSAID LEVER ARM TO OPEN SAID THIRD VALVE AFTER SAID FIRST AND SECONDVALVES ARE CLOSED AND TO CLOSE SAID THIRD VALVE BEFORE SAID FIRST ANDSECOND VALVES ARE OPENED.